The Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Palmes Académiques is one of the distinctions awarded by the French Government to individuals recognized for their outstanding contributions to education, science, culture, and the enrichment of cultural heritage. Established by Napoleon in 1808, the honor has been awarded to a number of prominent figures, including Marie Curie, Jean-Baptiste Charcot, and Léopold Sédar Senghor.

In his remarks, Ambassador Fabien Penone congratulated Dr. A. Rikrik Kusmara on receiving the distinction.

“Today, Dr. Andryanto Rikrik Kusmara, you join an esteemed group that includes Marie Curie, Jean-Baptiste Charcot, and Léopold Sédar Senghor. I am pleased that this ceremony can be held at ITB, a symbol of Indonesian excellence and a longstanding partner of France. Through you, France pays tribute to an artist, educator, and builder,” he said.

He noted that Dr. A. Rikrik Kusmara’s contributions to Indonesian culture extend beyond institutions and classrooms. As a curator, Dr. A. Rikrik Kusmara has helped shape Indonesia’s contemporary art landscape by providing a platform through which diverse works and ideas can be presented to the public.

He also highlighted Dr. A. Rikrik Kusmara’s role in strengthening cooperation between Bandung and Saint-Étienne, France. In 2015, when Bandung was designated a UNESCO Creative City, Dr. A. Rikrik Kusmara had the opportunity to visit Saint-Étienne, the first French city to join the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in 2010. The visit developed into a continuing collaboration connecting design, education, innovation, and culture.

The Establishment of ITB’s Material Library

One tangible outcome of the partnership was the establishment of Indonesia’s first Material Library at ITB’s Faculty of Art and Design (FSRD). The facility serves as a learning resource for design education and a transdisciplinary center that maps natural and innovative materials from Southeast Asia.

The space also documents traditional weaving patterns and craft motifs from different regions across the Indonesian archipelago, allowing cultural heritage to remain in dialogue with contemporary design practices.

Ambassador Fabien Penone also stated that Dr. A. Rikrik Kusmara had developed partnerships with several leading French institutions, including Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne and École Supérieure d’Art et Design Saint-Étienne. He has also been a key figure in the Bandung–Saint-Étienne Design Cities program, a residency initiative that brings together academic institutions, research centers, industries, and civil society.

Meanwhile, Dr. A. Rikrik Kusmara expressed his gratitude and sense of honor upon receiving the distinction. He said the award was not merely recognition of a personal achievement, but also a tribute to the longstanding collaboration, friendship, and intellectual exchange between Indonesia and France.

“Today marks a deeply meaningful moment in my career and professional journey. With profound gratitude, humility, and a deep sense of honor, I accept the distinction of Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Palmes Académiques conferred by the Government of the French Republic,” he said.

His connection with French culture began during his youth. He grew up not far from the Centre Culturel Français (CCF) in Bandung, now known as the Institut Français d’Indonésie (IFI). For him, the CCF was one of Bandung’s windows to the world, introducing the values of curiosity, openness, creativity, and cultural dialogue.

As an art student at ITB in the early 1990s, he encountered French intellectual traditions through exhibitions, film screenings, public lectures, performances, publications, and various cultural programs. These experiences shaped his view that art and culture are not merely aesthetic pursuits, but essential means through which societies understand themselves, engage with others, and imagine the future.

Throughout his professional career, Dr. A. Rikrik Kusmara has continued to deepen his understanding of the relationship between culture, education, and diplomacy. He has been actively involved in Indonesia’s arts, cultural, and creative sectors through management, networking, and curatorial work.

Through collaborations with ministries, government agencies, art communities, and cultural institutions, he has contributed to the development of cultural policies, exhibitions, festivals, educational programs, and various initiatives aimed at strengthening Indonesia’s creative ecosystem.

He also expressed his appreciation for IFI, which has served as a partner in opening access to international networks and intellectual opportunities. Since 2013, the partnership with IFI has supported the development of ITB’s Master’s Program in Fine Arts and connected ITB with various prominent academics and cultural institutions in France.

According to him, these collaborative experiences have provided inspiration for art and design education, cultural policy, and creative development in Indonesia.

Several initiatives in Bandung—including the Bandung Photography Triennale, Bandung Connex, Bandung Design Biennale, Bandung Light Festival, the revival of the ITB Art Market after an eleven-year hiatus, Akulturasa, a festival combining science, technology, and art, and the ITB Museum, which was scheduled to be inaugurated on July 3, 2026—demonstrate how cultural cooperation can generate far-reaching impacts.

“These initiatives demonstrate that cultural cooperation is not merely about exchanging knowledge. Its true value lies in strengthening institutions, expanding opportunities for communities and younger generations, fostering innovation, and creating sustainable social and economic impacts,” he said.

Dr. Andryanto Rikrik Kusmara currently serves as ITB Vice Rector for Communication, Partnerships, Alumni Relations, and Administration for the 2025–2030 term. He is an Associate Professor at FSRD ITB and a member of the Visual Arts Research Group. He earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from ITB in 1995, his Master of Fine Arts degree in 1999, and his doctoral degree from ITB in 2011. Before being appointed vice rector, he served as Dean of ITB’s Faculty of Art and Design.